The eighth edition of Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription reflects the latest exercise testing and prescription guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as well as physical activity recommendations from the U.S. government and American Heart Association. It also takes into account recent ACSM guidelines for medical exam and exercise testing requirements to consider before beginning exercise programs. Additional updates to the eighth edition include the following:

Significant expansion of the online video clips, which now demonstrate nearly 75 fitness tests, including functional movement assessment and push-up and pull-up testing

New protocols and assessments for each of the five fitness components, from self-paced treadmill protocols for cardiorespiratory fitness to the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) for assessment of balance

Updated blood pressure standards for hypertension

Expanded information on the use of technology to monitor physical activity, including wearable activity trackers and mobile apps

Updated information on the use of workspace design to promote physical activity and exercise

Extensive updates to the supporting research for the assessment and testing protocols

Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, Eighth Edition, is structured around five physical fitness components: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular fitness (strength, endurance, and power), body composition, flexibility, and balance. The text begins with an overview of physical activity, health, and chronic disease, including a discussion of preliminary health screening and risk classification. It then leads into field and laboratory assessment and testing protocols, followed by prescription guidelines for designing exercise programs to improve each fitness component. Readers will find the latest information on maximal and submaximal graded exercise testing in healthy populations, as well as muscular fitness testing protocols and norms for children and adults.

Advanced Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription, Eighth Edition, truly bridges the gap between research and practice. Its unique scope, depth of coverage, and clearly outlined approach makeit an invaluable resource for students and exercise science professionals who want to increase their knowledge, skill, and competence in assessing clients' fitness and designing individualized exercise programs.

About the

Ann L. Gibson, PhD, FACSM, is an associate professor and
researcher in exercise science at the University of New Mexico, with
research interests in body composition and physiological responses to
exercise. She developed the ancillary materials for the sixth edition of Advanced
Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription in addition to
coauthoring the seventh edition.

Gibson has presented internationally in the area of obesity research and
has published original research in journals such as Medicine &
Science in Sports & Exercise, American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise
Metabolism, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, and Journal
of Bone and Joint Surgery. She is a member of the American College
of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and
the Clinical Exercise Physiology Association.

Gibson resides in New Mexico, where she enjoys spending time outdoors
hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and gardening.

Dale R. Wagner, PhD, EPC, ACSM-CEP, CSCS, is a professor of
exercise physiology at Utah State University (USU). His research
interests include body composition assessment and exercise physiology at
high altitude. He has been an active researcher for 20 years and has
authored over 60 peer-reviewed research publications. He is a coauthor
of Applied Body Composition Assessment (Human Kinetics, 2004)
with Vivian Heyward.

Wagner is a past president of the Southwest Chapter of the American
College of Sports Medicine (SWACSM) and of the American Society of
Exercise Physiologists. He is a research council member of the
Wilderness Medical Society and a member of the National Strength and
Conditioning Association, the International Society for Mountain
Medicine, and the International Society for Body Composition Research.

In his spare time, Wagner enjoys mountaineering, cycling (both road and
mountain), and international travel.

Vivian H. Heyward, PhD, is a regents’ professor emerita at the
University of New Mexico, where she taught physical fitness assessment
and exercise prescription courses for 26 years. In addition to the
previous editions of this book, she has authored two editions of Applied
Body Composition Assessment (Human Kinetics, 1996, 2004) as well as
numerous articles in research and professional journals dealing with
various aspects of physical fitness assessment and exercise
prescription. Heyward has received many professional awards, including
the SWACSM Recognition Award for distinguished professional achievement
and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois and
the State University of New York at Cortland.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, nature photography, golfing, and
snowshoeing. Heyward resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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